Interventional Pain Medicine

This presentation critiques the current state of interventional pain medicine, highlighting its shift from a patient-centered model to a procedure-focused approach, often ignoring psychological and social factors that perpetuate chronic pain. While interventions like injections and neuromodulation may reduce pain, they fail to address maladaptive behaviors, depression, or functional improvement when used in isolation. Dr. Michael Schatman advocates for multidisciplinary, biopsychosocial frameworks, integrating behavioral health, rehabilitation, and patient engagement for better outcomes. Despite ACGME requirements for multidisciplinary training, true implementation in U.S. programs is rare. The talk emphasizes education, collaboration, and structural incentives to move away from siloed practices toward comprehensive, patient-focused care.